A suitcase of human remains wrapped in Saran Wrap left a quiet North East, Maryland, community heartbroken in June. Darrian Randle initially told cops her 3-year-old daughter was kidnapped at gunpoint, but after an investigation, she fessed up to the unthinkable.
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After an Amber Alert was issued for Nola Dinkins, authorities went to the home of Cedrick Britten, Randle’s boyfriend. There they did not find missing Nola, but they did notice the odor of cleaning products, specifically bleach, and a child’s blanket with a reddish-brown smear consistent with blood in his car.
Randle initially made numerous false and misleading statements, according to reports, before admitting she struck her daughter “approximately 15-20 times” with a belt at Britten’s home. Per authorities, an unresponsive Nola was wrapped in Saran Wrap, placed inside a suitcase, and discarded in a vacant lot near Britten’s house. The suitcase was found after Britten drew a map for investigators, and the remains was identified as the toddler.
According to court documents, there was a years-long custody battle over Nola between Randle and the girl’s father. CBS News reports, per their custody agreement, Nola was to spend four weeks of this summer with her father after he petitioned to keep her in their home state of Indiana. The parents eventually agreed to share custody of Nola, but court document names Randle as Nola’s custodial parent.
In June 2023, Randle filed a notice of relocation to take Dinkins out of Indiana. It’s unclear whether Nola’s father knew she was in another state.
On June 11, the Maryland State Police announced Randle, 31, was taken into custody. She was charged with first and second degree murder, first degree child abuse resulting in death of a minor under 13, and other charges. Her boyfriend was charged as an accessory to first and second degree murder and other charges.
Britten, 44, was released on a $75,000 bond and is confined to home detention.
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